Gurman’s latest PowerOn newletter hints that the new iPhone 13 will reportedly get the anticipated satellite feature. The report also suggests that the iPhone 13 may not get the feature immediately and functionality is likely to go live next year. While the hardware support will be embedded in the iPhone 13 range, the feature will not be rolled out for a few months. Gurman clarifies that the feature will not allow users to use the iPhone 13 as a satellite phone and have the ability to make calls anywhere in the world without cellular coverage.

He adds, “That’s not happening now, next year or anytime in the near future. Launching such a feature would require hardware not ready for prime time, would be expensive and could cause a revolt from the iPhone carries that Apple relies on.” The new satellite feature will reportedly allow users to transmit short emergency texts and send SOS distress signals for crises, like plane crashes or sinking ships, in remote areas. The newsletter says that the emergency feature will only work in areas without any cellular coverage.

Outside of the Chinese market, modern iPhones do support two SIMs; only the first is a physical SIM card, while the second is a digital eSIM. Not every network supports eSIM, and for many, it may be more convenient to have two physical SIM cards in their phone.

Apple does not offer this solution to its customers, the only iPhone configurations are around colour and storage. Could western iPhones support two physical SIMS? Hugh Jeffreys decided to find out; after all the iPhone already has two IMEI numbers, and the SIM component is modular.

Ordering a replacement dual-SIM component for a Chinese iPhone, Jeffreys got to work on the physical side of things. Disassembling the iPhone (not the simplest of tasks), he was able to access the module. Curiously it is simply screwed into the board, with a simple flex cable and connector. In other words, a very simple switch out of the two components.

On rebooting, the iPhone picked up on the dual-SIM module, reconfigured the Settings app to deal with two physical cards, and Apple’s smartphone ran happily with two physical SIM cards.

Curiously, there is no hardware lockout that third-party repairers have to deal with when replacing a TouchID sensor, nor are there any warnings about using unauthorised parts as you can see when a battery is replaced outside of Apple’s domain. That the module is easily switched out, rather than heavily glued and soldered in place is also notable.